Manchester Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Manchester is £2,312.04 for 2026/27, up 5.9% (£129.01) on last year. That is £79.48 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 63rd lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (54%), so the average bill per home is about £1,810.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Metropolitan district, North West · Official England government statistics
Manchester council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,541.36 | £154.14 | £128.45 | £1,156.02 | 138,930 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,798.25 | £179.83 | £149.85 | £1,348.69 | 43,830 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,055.15 | £205.51 | £171.26 | £1,541.36 | 39,570 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,312.04 | £231.20 | £192.67 | £1,734.03 | 22,040 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,825.83 | £282.58 | £235.49 | £2,119.37 | 8,300 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,339.61 | £333.96 | £278.30 | £2,504.71 | 3,580 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,853.40 | £385.34 | £321.12 | £2,890.05 | 1,290 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,624.08 | £462.41 | £385.34 | £3,468.06 | 150 |
- Manchester
- England average
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Where your Manchester council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Manchester but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,312.04 Band D charge, £1,872.79 (81%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, mayoral combined authority.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,837.11 | 79.5% | £1,224.74 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £35.68 | 1.5% | £23.79 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £285.30 | 12.3% | £190.20 |
| Mayoral combined authority | £153.95 | 6.7% | £102.63 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,837 79.5%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £36 1.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £285 12.3%
- Mayoral combined authority £154 6.7%
Manchester council tax history
Band D in Manchester has risen from £1,435.12 in 2016/17 to £2,312.04 in 2026/27 — 61% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 28.0%, the 42nd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Manchester Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,312.04 | +5.9% | £1,541.36 |
| 2025/26 | £2,183.03 | +5.5% | £1,455.35 |
| 2024/25 | £2,068.25 | +5.0% | £1,378.83 |
| 2023/24 | £1,969.50 | +5.2% | £1,313.00 |
| 2022/23 | £1,872.59 | +3.7% | £1,248.39 |
| 2021/22 | £1,805.84 | +4.7% | £1,203.89 |
| 2020/21 | £1,724.71 | +4.8% | £1,149.81 |
| 2019/20 | £1,646.02 | +5.1% | £1,097.35 |
| 2018/19 | £1,566.79 | +4.3% | £1,044.53 |
| 2017/18 | £1,502.12 | +4.7% | £1,001.41 |
| 2016/17 | £1,435.12 | – | £956.75 |
Homes by council tax band in Manchester
Manchester has 257,690 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 71% are in Bands A or B, so for most households the real bill is well below the Band D figure. The most common band is A, which costs £1,541.36 a year (£154.14 a month over 10 instalments).
Manchester compared with North West
Manchester is the 3rd cheapest of 35 councils in North West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,483.22 (£171.18 more than here). Cheapest: Wigan (£2,152.68); most expensive: Liverpool (£2,673.59).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Wigan | £2,152.68 | +6% |
| Trafford | £2,291.70 | +8% |
| Manchester | £2,312.04 | +5.9% |
| Halton | £2,366.61 | +5.2% |
| Ribble Valley | £2,386.50 | +3.8% |
| Bolton | £2,399.74 | +5.9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Manchester drops from £1,541.36 to £1,156.02.
- Council Tax Reduction: Manchester runs its own scheme for people on low incomes or benefits — rules differ from council to council in England.
- Disregards and exemptions: full-time students, student halls, some carers and people with a severe mental impairment are not counted; all-student homes pay nothing.
- Disabled Band Reduction: if your home has been adapted for a disabled person you may be billed one band lower (Band A homes get a reduction of 1/9 of Band D).
Manchester's 5.9% rise compares with an England average of 4.9%. Councils responsible for social care can raise their own share by up to 4.99% without a referendum, districts by under 3% or £5, and police and fire bodies by fixed cash amounts — so the area total can move by a different percentage.
Two kinds of second home in Manchester, with different premium dates
Manchester City Council has charged second-homes and long-term empty premiums since 1 April 2025. Its rules treat two kinds of furnished home differently:
- Furnished, and nobody uses it (for example a furnished flat empty between tenants): full council tax from the date it becomes a second home, plus a 100% premium after 12 months.
- Furnished and used by someone, but not as their main home (for example a pied-à-terre or a flat used occasionally): the 100% premium applies straight away, from the date it became a second home.
- Empty and unfurnished, including new homes and homes having major building work: full council tax from the day it becomes empty. Then a 100% premium after 12 months, 200% after five years and 300% after ten.
- There is no premium for up to 12 months from first marketing for homes on sale or to let. Job-related homes, annexes used as part of a main home, and caravans or moorings are also excluded. You must apply for these.
What the premiums cost on a typical Manchester home
54% of Manchester's homes are in Band A, the highest share of any band. In 2026/27 a Band A bill is £1,541.36. A Band A flat used occasionally as a second home therefore costs £3,082.72 from day one. A Band A home left empty and unfurnished for six years costs £4,624.08 a year. In Band D (£2,312.04) the same premiums take the bill to £4,624.08 and £6,936.12.
Council Tax Support and care leavers in Manchester
Manchester's Council Tax Support scheme has two parts: Part A for pension-age people and Part B for working-age people. The council changed the scheme in April 2024 to give more support to working-age residents. At the same time, it extended backdating to up to one year for both pension-age and working-age claims. If you claim Universal Credit and say you want help with council tax, Manchester treats your UC claim as a Council Tax Support claim too, so you do not need a separate form. The council publishes the full scheme each year, and significant changes need public consultation.
Young people who were in care can get money off until they turn 25. To qualify, they must have been in care on or after their 16th birthday, and for at least 13 weeks in total from age 14. This includes children's homes and foster care.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Manchester?
£2,312.04 a year in 2026/27, or £231.20 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Manchester?
Band A: 138,930 of 257,690 homes (54%). A Band A bill is £1,541.36 in 2026/27.
How much has Manchester council tax gone up?
5.9% this year, from £2,183.03 to £2,312.04 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 61%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Manchester?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,837.11; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £35.68; Police and crime commissioner £285.30; Mayoral combined authority £153.95 (Band D, 2026/27).
How do I find my council tax band?
Search your postcode on GOV.UK “Check your Council Tax band”, run by the Valuation Office Agency. You can challenge your band if you think it is wrong.
When does the second home premium start in Manchester?
It depends how the home is used. If it is furnished but nobody uses it, the 100% premium starts after 12 months. If someone uses it occasionally but not as a main home, the premium applies straight away.
How far back can Manchester backdate Council Tax Support?
Up to one year, for both working-age and pension-age claimants, since the scheme was amended in April 2024.
Do I need to claim Council Tax Support separately if I get Universal Credit in Manchester?
No. If you say you want help with council tax when you claim Universal Credit, Manchester treats the UC claim as your Council Tax Support claim. If your UC claim is refused, you need to claim directly.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels 2026-27, Tables 1 to 9 (ODS)
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027, Table 10 local authority level data
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels 2025-26 (revised), Table 10 Local Authority Level Data (ODS), used for England % change
- VOA / GOV.UK: Understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- GOV.UK: Council Tax – who has to pay (single person discount)
- MHCLG: Band D Council Tax figures 1993 onwards, Table 5 area Band D (live table, 2026-27 revised)
- VOA: Council Tax stock of properties 2026, Table CTSOP1.0 (properties by band at 31 March 2026, England and Wales)
- Manchester City Council – What you pay if your empty property isn't exempt
- Manchester City Council – What you pay if a second home isn't exempt
- Manchester City Council – Manchester's Council Tax Support Scheme
- Manchester City Council – Find out if you can claim Council Tax Support
- Manchester City Council – Money off council tax for people leaving care